DENVER - AUGUST 29: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers has something to say to cornerback Keenan Lewis after he was called for a personal foul as he tackled Brandon Lloyd of the Denver Broncos during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 29, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers are handcuffed by the salary cap, they have to find a way to re-sign Keenan Lewis, who had a breakout season as a starting cornerback in 2012.
Or do they?
Second-year cornerback Cortez Allen showed in the final two weeks of 2012 that he could push for a starting job in 2013.
Allen intercepted two passes and forced three fumbles. So in two games he was in on 25 percent of the Steelers’ 20 takeaways in 2012. Assuming Ike Taylor returns to health and is ready to go in 2013, the ball-hawking Allen would be a nice complement as a starter to Taylor, who has hands of stone despite being a shutdown corner.
The Steelers could be tempted to save some money by letting Lewis leave as a free agent and starting Taylor and Allen at cornerback next season. Then they could draft a cornerback like Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes or Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks to replace Allen as the third corner.
Don’t do it, Steelers.
The Steelers are projected to be about $...

You'll
also
receive Yardbarker's daily Top 10, featuring the best sports stories from around the web.
Customize your newsletter to get articles on your favorite sports and teams. And the best part? It's free!

Company Info

Help

What is Yardbarker?

Yardbarker is the largest network of sports blogs and pro athlete blogs on the web. This site is the hub of the Yardbarker Network, where our editors and algorithms curate the best sports content from our network and beyond.